PRIMATES: Our DNA in the trees.

Monkeys and apes. Orang utans, chimps, and baboons.
What is it about these guys? Is it their familiarity? Looking at them is like looking in the mirror, with shared DNA in the high 90% range for some.
I lost a few species shots from Kenya and Ethiopia unfortunately, and look forward to one day adding some gorillas, the ultimate primate.

Baboon tanzania monkey primate wildlife nature safari willy — A baboon on full display, Tanzania.

Chimpanzees DR Jane Goodall chimps Gombe National Park Tanzania wildlife nature primates — A chimp approaches. He (she?) walked straight past where we sat, close enough to touch.

Chimpanzees DR Jane Goodall chimps Gombe National Park Tanzania wildlife nature primates — Gombe National Park is where primatolohist Dr Jane Goodall conducts her research. This is one of her chimps.

Chimpanzees DR Jane Goodall chimps Gombe National Park Tanzania wildlife nature primates — Little chimp watches as big chimps eats, Gombe National Park on Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania.

ETHIOPIA Simien Mountains hiking baboons travel africa nature wildlife — Gelada baboons in Ethiopia's Simien Mountains, engage in some chest puffing. We were able to observe them in great numbers for a good hour.

ETHIOPIA Simien Mountains hiking baboons travel africa nature wildlife — While some baboon species can be bery aggressive, gelada baboons are much safer. Camping in Ethiopia, we saw many at close distance.

MALAYSIA SABAH travel sepilok orang utan deforestation orphans rehab — One of our closest relatives, the orang utan lives in forests of Borneo and Sumatra. This fellow is in Sepilok Sanctuary, which returns orphans to the wild. Sabah, Malaysia.

MALAYSIA SABAH travel sanadakan sepilok orang utan rehab centre wildlife deforestation — Deforestation is a serious problem in Malaysia (and Indonesia, orang utans' other home). Logging for timber and clear felling for palm oil plantations threaten these great creatures with extinction.

MALAYSIA SABAH travel orang utan kinabatangan wildlife nature — A wild orang utan encounter on the Kinabatangan River, Sabah, Malaysia. We saw a few from the river, and more proboscis monkeys too, but this fellow came crashing right through the canopy of our camp.

AUSTRALIA victoria travel Melbourne Zoo lemur primate — Melbourne Zoo, ring tailed lemur. Waiting til I get to Madagascar.

AUSTRALIA victoria travel Melbourne Zoo black and white colobus monkey primate — Balck and white colobus monkeys range much of western Kenya. We saw many on our hikes there, but I lost all my pics. This chap is at Melbourne Zoo.

Thailand Khao Yai National Park macaque travel nature wildlife conservation forests — A macaque plays innocent in Thailand's Khao Yai National Park. It was probably this one that ransacked my tent.

Thailand Khao Yai National Park white handed gibbon travel nature wildlife conservation forests — A white-handed gibbon, Khao Yai.

Thailand Khao Yai National Park white handed gibbontravel nature wildlife conservation forests — Maybe I was just lucky, but I saw gibbons everyday when I was in Khao Yai.

Thailand Khao Yai National Park macaque eating fruit travel nature wildlife conservation forests — Khao Yai's macaque are fond of raiding tents. They ate my vitamins, toothpaste, and spirits for my stove. Eat the berries!

MALAWI Nkhotakota Nkhotakota National Park monkeys travel wildlife primates nature — Mother and baby in Nkhotakota Nkhotakota National Park in Malawi.

tanzania gombe national park chimpanzees chimps travel jane goodall nature wildlife — At the park HQ where Jane Goodall bases herself, a curious young Mum peers inside a room.

tanzania gombe national park chimpanzees chimps travel jane goodall nature wildlife — Visiting the chimps in Gombe was really expensive, but, hey what you going to do?

tanzania gombe national park chimpanzees chimps travel jane goodall nature wildlife — There is a bit of walking involved to find these guys, but worth every step.

PHILIPPINES BOHOL LOBOK Tarsier Sanctuary wildlife conservation smallest primate travel tropical island — They did inspire gremlins, yes. They have the largest eyes (by body size) of any animal on earth, and are reallllly cool.

PHILIPPINES BOHOL LOBOK Tarsier Sanctuary wildlife conservation smallest primate travel tropical island — At between 9 and 14cms, weighing just over 100 grams, tarsiers are the world's smallest primates, surviving in pockets of forests in the southern Philippines and Indonesia.

NAMIBIA NAUKLUFT valley baboon eats arid landscape drought desert travel — In the Naklauft area of southern Namibia, a baboon browses for food.

THAILAND KAENG KRACHAN langur in trees spectacled langur primates monkeys wildlife nature national parks travel — Dusky, or spectacled langurs, Kaeng Krachan National Park.

THAILAND KHAO YAI white handed gibbons in trees primates monkeys wildlife nature national parks travel — White handed gibbons, Khao Yai National Park. Fantastic creatures.

ZIMBABWE NYANGA NATIONAL PARK samango monkey eastern highlands wildlife nature conservation animals bush camping big game travel africa — Samango monkey spotted around Mtarazi Falls, in Zimbabwe's eastern highlands.

PHILIPPINES BOHOL Tarsier Sanctuary smallest primate animals conservation wildlife — Another tarsier from another visit to the Philippines.

INDONESIA TANGKOKO NATIONAL PARK Celebes crested macaque primates wildlife nature — Tangkoko National Park on the far tip of Sulawesi is home to the Celebes Crested Macaque, and a few other rarities.

INDONESIA TANGKOKO NATIONAL PARK Celebes crested macaque primates wildlife nature — They are extremely adjusted to the presence of humans.

INDONESIA TANGKOKO NATIONAL PARK tarsiers gremlins primates wildlife nature — Tarsiers are also found here, sometimes too easily, with a crowd of onlookers. If you're lucky, you'll spot them on a walk.